Cian Keogh made the stage 1 breakaway before a strong ride in the afternoon TT saw him take the overall lead. Above, Harmanen claims the first stage from the six-man escape (All photos with thanks to C McKeown & Westport Covey Wheelers)

Niko Harmanen, Paul Forristal win Rás Mhaigh Eo stages

Cian Keogh (Sports Room Racing) was in the yellow jersey at Rás Mhaigh Eo going into today's final stage. Yesterday he was part of a seven-man escape that survived all the way on the opening road stage.

And in the 3.8km hilly TT he also rode very strong; claiming 3rd place. That result saw him take the yellow jersey from stage 1 winner Niko Harmanen (St Tiernans CC).

Keogh was leading the race this morning by a very decent cushion of 14 seconds over team mate Declan Maloney. And then Cathal Dillane (Gerry McVeigh Cars) was just one further second behind.

Harmanen won a five-up sprint from the breakaway on the first stage from Dillane and Keogh. Also finishing on the same time were Andrew Higgins (Ballina CC) and Darren Allison (Strata 3-VeloRevolution).

Just four seconds behind was Maloney in 6th and John O’Regan (St Tiernans CC) was next, at 13 seconds.

There was a gap of 35 seconds between the leading five men and the head of the peloton; Shay Donley (NRPT-Chill Insurance) taking the sprint for 8th.

In the TT the breakaway men did not ride particularly well. Indeed, Keogh and Maloney were the only ones of the seven escapees from the opening stage to finish in the top 10.

Top, Paul Forristal of Scott Orwell Wheelers on his way to victory in yesterday evening's hilly 3.8km TT. Above, Cian Keogh puts in a great test after making the crucial escape earlier in the day. He was in the race leader's jersey going into today's final stage.

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That TT stage was won by Paul Forristal (Orwell Wheelers CC), by six tenths of a second from Kieran Regan (St Tiernan's).

Then came Keogh, just two seconds off the winner. His team mate Maloney was 8th, another nine seconds back.

But yellow jersey Harmanen was down in 16th, giving away 21 seconds to the winner of the test. Crucially he lost 19 seconds to Keogh.

Of the five men who finished on the same time on the opening stage, Dillane was next best in the TT after Keogh. He was 12th and lost 17 seconds to the winner.

With team mates Keogh and Maloney at the top of the general classification they are in a great position. The duo also have four other team mates to call upon for help during the final 104km stage today, Sunday.

Dillane is next overall, just one second behind Maloney in the general. Harmanen may have lost his yellow jersey but he is still 4th and is 19 seconds off the race lead.

Two other stage 1 breakaway men, Allison and Higgins, remain 5th and 6th; some 30 and 32 seconds off yellow.

With over 100km facing the riders on the final stage and 23 men within one minute of yellow, it should be a competitive finale.

Mar 24 & 25: Rás Mhaigh Eo

Westport, Co Mayo

Promoted by Westport Covey Wheelers

Sat, March 24: Stage 1A (88km)

1. Niko Harmanen St. Tiernans Cycling Club 2:11:02
2. Cathal Dillane Gerry McVeigh Cars
3. Cian Keogh The Sports Room Racing
4. Andrew Higgins Ballina Cycling Club
5. Darren Allison STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team
6. Declan Maloney The Sports Room Racing +00:04
7. John O’Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club +00:13
8. Shay Donley NRPT +00:35
9. Paul Forristal Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club
10. Declan Gallagher Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club
11. Ciaran Slattery Tralee Manor West BC
12. Mitchell Mclaughlin Four Masters CC
13. Jonathan Caulfield Castlebar Cycling Club
14. Kieran Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club
15. Declan Egan K Weston Wheelers
16. Matthew McCullagh Sundrive Track Team
17. Keelan Carberry Four Masters CC
18. Eoghan McArdle Ruane Galway Bay CC
19. Conor Gallagher NRPT
20. Jürgen Simpson Nenagh Cycling Club
21. Cian Dwyer Team Gerard-DHL
22. Ollie Kelly Longford Cycling & Racing Club
23. Thomas O’Brien Sundrive Track Team
24. Mark McGinley Four Masters CC
25. Jason O’Callaghan Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club
26. Seán Murnane The Sports Room Racing
27. Michael Flynn Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club
28. Gareth McCormack Ballina Cycling Club
29. David Brennan Castlebar Cycling Club
30. Tiit Talumaa St. Tiernans Cycling Club
Full stage 1a results here.

Sat, Mar 24: Stage 1B TT (3.8km)

1 Paul Forristal Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 0:06:41.519
2 Kieran Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 0:06:42.933
3 Cian Keogh The Sports Room Racing 0:06:43.343
4 Mark Smith The Sports Room Racing 0:06:45.574
5 Michael McGlynn Omagh Wheelers Cycling Club 0:06:46.527
6 Conor Halvey NRPT-Chill Insurance 0:06:48.117
7 Jonathan Caulfield Castlebar Cycling Club 0:06:50.171
8 Declan Maloney The Sports Room Racing 0:06:52.832
9 Matthew McCullagh Sundrive Track Team 0:06:55.871
10 Eamon Daly Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club 0:06:57.570
11 Peter McColgan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 0:06:57.593
12 Cathal Dillane Gerry McVeigh Cars 00:06:58
13 Martin Divilly Galway Bay CC 0:06:58.953
14 Ciaran Slattery Tralee Manor West BC 0:06:59.894
15 Shay Donley NRPT-Chill Insurance 0:07:00.878
16 Niko Harmanen St. Tiernans Cycling Club 0:07:02.488
17 Gareth McCormack Ballina Cycling Club 0:07:02.789
18 Ruaidhri Geraghty Galway Bay CC 0:07:03.593
19 Shane Higgins The Sports Room Racing 0:07:04.410
20 John O’Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 0:07:04.835
21 Declan Egan K Weston Wheelers 0:07:04.894
22 Seán Murnane The Sports Room Racing 0:07:05.859
23 Cian Dwyer Team Gerard-DHL 0:07:07.421
24 Kenneth Kennedy Nenagh Cycling Club 0:07:08.562
25 David P Sheridan Longford Cycling & Racing Club 0:07:08.968
26 Conor Gallagher NRPT-Chill Insurance 0:07:10.472
27 Damien Creighton Ballina Cycling Club 0:07:11.941
28 Jürgen Simpson Nenagh Cycling Club 0:07:13.230
29 Darren Allison Strata3/VeloRevolution Racing Team 0:07:13.406
30 Mitchell McLaughlin Four Masters CC 0:07:14.613
Full stage 1b results here.

General Classification after two stages

1 Cian Keogh The Sports Room Racing 02:17:45
2 Declan Maloney The Sports Room Racing 02:17:59
3 Cathal Dillane Gerry McVeigh Cars 02:18:00
4 Niko Harmanen St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:18:04
5 Darren Allison STRATA3/VeloRevolution Racing Team 02:18:15
6 Andrew Higgins Ballina Cycling Club 02:18:17
7 Paul Forristal Scott Orwell Wheelers Cycling Club 02:18:19
8 John O’Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:18:20
9 Kieran Regan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:18:20
10 Mark Smith The Sports Room Racing 02:18:23
11 Conor Halvey NRPT 02:18:25
12 Jonathan Caulfield Castlebar Cycling Club 02:18:27
13 Matthew McCullagh Sundrive Track Team 02:18:33
14 Eamon Daly Westport Covey Wheelers Cycling Club 02:18:35
15 Peter McColgan St. Tiernans Cycling Club 02:18:35
16 Ciaran Slattery Tralee Manor West BC 02:18:37
17 Shay Donley NRPT 02:18:38
18 Gareth McCormack Ballina Cycling Club 02:18:40
19 Ruaidhri Geraghty Galway Bay CC 02:18:41
20 Shane Higgins The Sports Room Racing 02:18:41
21 Declan Egan K Weston Wheelers 02:18:42
22 Seán Murnane The Sports Room Racing 02:18:43
23 Cian Dwyer Team Gerard-DHL 02:18:44
24 Kenneth Kennedy Nenagh Cycling Club 02:18:46
25 Conor Gallagher NRPT 02:18:47
26 Damien Creighton Ballina Cycling Club 02:18:49
27 Jürgen Simpson Nenagh Cycling Club 02:18:50
28 Mitchell Mclaughlin Four Masters CC 02:18:52
29 Martin Divilly Galway Bay CC 02:18:54
30 Keelan Carberry Four Masters CC 02:18:54
Full general classification here.